The thinking ape: the enigma of human consciousness

Steven Paulson, David Chalmers, Daniel Kahneman, Laurie Santos, and Nicholas Schiff

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1303, 4-24 (2013)

Summary

What is the origin and nature of consciousnes? If conscious is common to humans and animals alike, what are the defining traits of human consciousness? Moderated by Steve Paulson, executive producer and host of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Nobel laureate psychologist Daniel Kahneman, philosoper David Chalmers, expert in primate cognition Laurie Santos, and physician-scientist Nicholas Schiff discuss what it means to be conscieous and examine the human capacities displayed in cognitive, aesthetic and ethical behaviors, with a focus on the place and function of the mind within nature. The following is an edited transcript of the discussion that occurred October 10, 2012, 7:00-8:15pm, at the New York Academy fo Sciences in New York City.

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